All over Creation

Rating:
Summary: Lovely writing, wonderful subject, contrived plot
Review: After reading "My Year of Meats", I was excited to start Ozeki's next work, "All over Creation". Having just finished it, I can say that I was left with very mixed feelings.

As with her previous book, Ozeki has a flair for writing and painting a picture of place, time and characters. Her character development is first rate and she never goes for the black and white. Everyone is cast in rich shades of gray. These are people we could know, who might live next door or in the town where we grew up.

In addition, she is a courageous writer. Ozeki is not afraid to use her fiction to tackle important subjects, such as Genetic Engineering and its impact on our lives.

However, I was bothered by a story that was so terribly contrived. The arrival of Elliot Rhodes and the Seeds at just the moment when Yummy Fuller comes back to Liberty Falls for the first time in 25 years is hard to swallow. The intersection of these events and the subsequent impact on the lives of the Fullers and the Quinns feels too neat and convenient and frankly, forced. Unlike her character development, Ozeki's plot development is very flawed.

I hope with time that Ozeki learns how to craft a credible story. With her gift for character and description, she can go far in the literary world.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific
Review: I admit, I came to All Over Creation with a little trepidation. I had recently finished My Year of Meats which I thought was overly preachy and I was concerned that All Over Creation would be more of same, but Ozeki's terrific writing prompted me to give it a try. I am quite glad I did. All Over Creation is really a wonderful read, a wonderful story with an important message. The novel takes place in Power County, Idaho, potato country. Yumi Fuller has just returned home with her three children (who all have different fathers) after being summoned by Cass, an old friend, to care for her parents who are both ill. Yumi left about 25 years early, ran away, and hadn't returned. Her friendship with Cass has soured by now, as has her relationship with her parents. Into the mix toss a band of environmental activists who come to Yumi's parent's farm, seeking guidance from Lloyd, Yumi's dad, based on his writings in seed catalogues. The activists, The Seeds of Resistance, are waging a war against genetically engineered crops. Then comes Elliot Rhodes, Yumi's old boyfriend, who does PR for those companies that sell the seeds for the crops to the farmers. Much happens in the novel. It has a very interesting, engaging and entertaining (and educational) story. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: takes itself too seriously
Review: I found "My Year of Meats" searching through books being taught in UCLA English courses. It was one of the best books I read last year. The characters, entertwined in a brilliantly constructed plot, are vibrant and believable; their story gets you totally hooked on the political subject matter and outcome of the book. "All Over Creation" however seems dominated by a preachy political agenda at the expense of good story-telling. The device of developing Yumi in first-person, then third-person, even the "You" narrative from chapter to chapter feels like it's trying too hard to elicit feelings for a character who seems too self-important to begin with and just becomes more and more annoying. The scenes feel tacked together, as if they don't really matter, and the dialogue is awkward and forced. Considering how well written (and non-preachy) "My Year of Meats" is, this is a really surprising let-down.

Rating:
Summary: Waiting for Ruth Ozeki's Next Book!!
Review: I just discovered Ruth Ozeki earlier this year, when I plowed through My Year of Meats. MYOM was more laugh-out-loud funny than All Over Creation, but it's clear to see that Ozeki has matured as a writer. All Over Creation had a more complex plot and character development. I would give this book 4-1/2 stars if I had a choice, because although I loved the character of Yumi, I had a really hard time understanding why she had any interest in Elliot. Here's a woman who has had many lovers and has never married any of them...you'd think she must be at least a bit choosy. Elliot was a jerk; it was obvious from the very beginning when he committed statutory rape years ago.

The story of friendship between Yumi and Cass was heart-warming and complicated. Cass resents Yumi for her fertility and the way she treats her children, having experienced the tragedy of infertility herself. Ozeki realistically portrays the complexity of female friendship.

The Seeds of Resistance stories were funny and enlightening. And finally, I enjoyed the rich relationships between Yumi, her parents, and her children. I would love to meet Ocean!

Rating:
Summary: My Year of Spuds
Review: If you gave up eating meat after Ozeki's last book/anti-carnivore treatise, then prepare to go organo-vegan with this thoroughly enjoyable romp. The jacket reviews say it's about nature's continual capacity for rebirth, and that's certainly the underlying theme, lesser motifs include the perils of starting smoking again, and that America has a crusty movement too- they just say "dude" more.